Portable extension for bag racks



June 29,1948. j E, WILLI MS 2,444,236

PORTABLE EXTENSION FOR BAG RACKS V Filed July 16, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. M04120: t'. W/LL/AMs M. E. WILLIAMS PORTABLE EXTENSION FOR BAG RACKS June 29, 1948.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 16, 1945 -INVENTOR. Mama: 5. VV/LL/AMS Patented June 29, 1948 STNETELS or l 2,4443% it nonTABLE EXTENSIONYEOB, BAG RACKSi Monroe E: Williams, Oakland, Calif. dpplicationfluly is, 1945, Serial-No. 505,351

Theinvention relatessto. the ,.construction; of

' stituting ,a, comparable rackextension has been dispensediwithh t v A furthertolo'jecttof the inventiontis-sto,provide ai bag, rack extensionwhichw as atresult. of; its simplicity and compactness permits, it to,. bestored-When notin .use invavminimumofdspacei Still another! object of, the invention .is to-Jprow' vide-g improved construction for, bagracks, oi, the. type-referred 3 to which dispenses with, the need for vertical secondarye support 1 members rising, from ithetfioor; over, which thetrack. maytbeeposi.

tioned,.together with,theusualemountingtdevicesz generally associated w-ith such support members;

Yet another, object; of .theinvention is, to, proe vide va]; i-attai'thmentg for extending-,-the 0843501133 301" hag, racks; which is constructed as an; integral unit, is;markedsbyT sturdinesstoi: designlande em-.- I

bodiessnou detachable -parts;which 'may become displaced, or separated-lfrom.v the, device; during; use onstoragethereofet 1 Asfurther i object of theinventiontissto provide am-extension of the character described purposely;

designed to.sbezdet-achableefrom the maimraclszso that-swhenunotiimuse it-will .not interfere with the free movements {of the operator nor adverselys aifieet zhisiworkeefiiciencw Still. anotheri object toftthe-ainventioniistto prosvideo ans extensionr for :loag,- racks: whicht may;- he;

mounted-end dismountedwithoutfthe manipula.- tion of any, latching, or other: holding. means: to; secure :the extensionmintplaoe-e on itsrssupport;

- Another object,oietheeinventiorriis ton-provide; int atbag rack extension OfiithBmIlEtllI'Gw abovewdee scribedsnovelemeans for-.mounting,thewxtension omthe :mainrack wherein gravity; serves to 5110161? the; extension till place and. only, abnormalimovee ment which isenot encountered in normal use, issnecessary, in.order to. .detaehitl frommits support; t

Alfurther object" of the invention is to, provide,

in an extended rack'lfor supporting.,a,plurality,of.

bags .01." other. such" containers andiwniclris used;

' sonims: (01. 211-12) inoonjiinction with a working, surface'or tab1'e' carri'edjb'y, andiadapted for selective locationb'e tween the ends of the rack; an extension for supporting auxiliary bags or' the like adaptedit'o be positionedtat selected locations between the ends of the; rack', or in locations straddling .'t-he.,ends of "adjacent racks, andfin predeterminedrela'- tionship with the working surface/or table;

Another. and important object of the J inven'; tion is ,to provide-"an extension .unit fort bag ,rac'k's whioh effects a conservationoi floor space by af-" fording .a, wider passageway between confronting rack unitsthan can behobtainedwiththeityne ofi'rack extensionin present use;

The, invention possessesother objects andiea'e tures .of value which, togethenwiththe foregoing; will. be specifically pointed out"'in., the detailed description of, the preferred form of the" inven tioniher'euntor annexed. It is to beunder'stood that the invention is .not to be limitedttothe'specifi'ciorm thereof herein shown anddescribed.as various modifications thereof may be employed withinthescope ofjtheappended 'claim's.

Referrih'gytoithesdrawings:

Figure, 1"isv a top plan view of a. completeba'g rackiunit and a portion ofian adjacent unit i the latter being broken off'so as to shorten the view;

Figure; 2'' is a. vertical sectional 1 view of? the structure..shown'inFigure 1, the plane in which the, View is taken bein'g indicated'by'the line 2-2 oflthe latter figure. The dotted and dot-dashlines indicate, respectively; the folded'position oi the main rackunit and the position ofa bag carried by the extension unit.

Figure 3" is atview'; similar to Figure 2,,showthe position of the, distributing, table; and its relationship to. the rack structure.

Figure 4 ism-perspective view ofthe rack-extensionnnit;

Thepresenttype of bag rackin general .useuin railwaymail "cars comprises .a, plurality of 'braclie et's.,fii'Whicliaresecured to the-bulkhead or inner sidegwalll'l of thetcar in horizontally. ahgnedand spaced relationship at .the required distanceabove thefl'ooir 8"of the cars. Eachof the bracketsifiis bifurcated. andfis, fitted with at removable block.

9"Lheld in place by abolt lllpassing ,thnough .the block and, through, both sidemembers of the bracket. There isjthushrormedsineach bracket an aperture which receives ,anddjournals asection of: pipe I 2 having, an overall, dimension sufficient.

for the length of rack desired and commonly, known and designated in the art as No. 1 rod. se, cured to the ends offthe pipe. l2.are end members.

.orarms lit-which, in their. operative position 3 mutually lie in substantially a horizontal plane and extend generally in a direction outwardly from the bulkhead or sidewall 1. Each end member or arm i3 is provided at its extreme end with a pair of vertically spaced apertured eyes l4 and i3 and medially of its ends with a similar pair of apertured eyes i! and i8. Pipes l9, 2| and 22, which are similar to the pipe I2, have their ends secured in the eyes i4, i6 and H respectively and parallel each other, the pipes l9 and 22 being axially equidistant and the pipe 2| being spaced slightly outwardly, with respect to the bulkhead or wall 1, from the pipe Hi. The pipes 22, I9 and, 2|, respectively, are commonly known and designated in the art as No. 2 rod, No. 3 rod and No. 4 rod. Interposed intermediate each end member rising from the car floor, the base of the pedestal being releasably attached, by suitable bolts and wing nuts to a base plate permanently located and secured in the car floor. Such pedestals are pnovided at the opposite ends of each section of center rod and at the junction between adjacent sections thereof in which case the grouped stems of the links of the abutting center rod sections occupy both of the pedestal sockets.

In addition to the extension bridges a demountable distributing table is provided, which extends 1 across substantially one-third of the total length of the rack sections, which is used for supporti3 and the floor 8 is a leg or strut, which supports 2 the end member in its aforesaid substantially horizontal position, comprising a pair of telescopic tubes 23 and 24, the tubes being relatively slidable axially of each other. The upper end of the outer'tube 23 is fitted with a plug member 26 clevised to receive the eye l8 and pivotally' con-' nected thereto by means of a pin or bolt 21. The lower end of the inner tube 24 is fitted with a. simi lar plug 28 pivotally engaged, by means of a pin or bolt 29, with a bracket 3| secured to the floor 8. The length of the outer tube 23 is such that when its lower end impinges against the shoulder 32 of the plug 28 the end member will be properly positioned relative to the fioor. Each of the pipes I2, 22 and i 9, comprising rods Nos. 1, 2 and 3, are provided as best shown in Figure 1 with sets of hooks arranged to engage the rim grommets of bags indicated by the dot-dash lines 33, the bags being thus supported in depending position by the rack. At the rearward side of each bag is positioned a label carrier 34, which may be viewed from the operational side or the apparatus, represented by the bottom of the drawing, attached by suitable means to the pipes I2, 22 and I9. When devoid of bags 33 the rack section may be pivoted upwardly about the axis oi the pipe L2 to a position, indicated by the dotted'lines of Figure 2, wherein the pipe 22 engages one or more latch dogs 36 which are pivotally mounted' on the bulkhead or sidewall l by brackets 3?. The fold-up feature of the rack permits it to be moved out of the way in the event that the car is to be cleaned or used for transportation purposes in which there is no need for the bag racks.

' The apparatus so far described comprises a standard rack unit which is usually adapted to s'upportten dull-size mail bags. Where the capacity of the rack is to be increased to accommodate a large number of bags, extensions known as bridges are employed. Each of these bridges comprises a rectangular pipe frame of a size sufii cient to accommodate two bags and as many as desired of the bridges are attached to the main rack, along the inboard or working side thereof to provide the desired increased capacity. Conmotion is effected by a pair of hooks each being engaged with the pipe Oil No. 4 rod 2|. The opposite side of the bridge is equipped with a similar pair of hooks extending downwardly to releasably engage one of a pair of parallel center rods extending in spaced relation with and completely across the front of the main rack unit. The opposite ends of each pair of center rods are tied together by and secured to links each \of which is provided with a downwardly-extendin stem adapted to releasably engage one of a pair of sockets formed in the uppfir end of a pedestal identical with that which exists mg the material, such as mail, which is to be selected and deposited in the respective bags. The manner of supporting the distributing table is similar to that employed in mounting the bridge unit and comprises a pair of hooks secured to the bottom of the table, which releasably engage one of the center rods, and an additional pair of hooked arms pivotally mounted adjacent the edge of the table facing the bulkhead or side wall of the car and adapted to releas-ably engage the pipe 2| or No. 4 rod. Both thebridges and the distributing table are interchangeable so that the order of their relationship across the front of the complete rack unit may be altered as desired or arrangedto 'aiford a more advantageous position for the operator.

It will be seen, from the description thus far, that the presently used apparatus for extending the capacity of bag racks comprises a large number of extra parts which are rather complicated in structure, which require considerable time to set up and remove and which occupy a comparatively large volume of storage space when the rack extensions are dismantled and not in use. I have succeeded in evolving an improved rack extension which renders it unnecessary to use the present center aisle equipment, namely, the permanent floor plates for the center rod pedestals, all of the pedestals, the center rods and their connectors and the more or less cumbersome present type of bridge together-with all of the hook devices used in mounting the bridges on the main racks and center rods. As is best shown in Figure 4., I providesubstitute bridge units each comprising a pair of side bars 38 joined byparallel pipes or rods 39 and 4| which are secured, at their respective opposite ends, in eyes 42 and 43 provided at what will be termed the outer end of each arm. The position of the eyes 43, which are formed at the terminals of angular extensions 44 of the side bars 38, with relation to the eyes 42 is such that it is the same axial spacing and angular positioning of the pipes 39 and 4| as exists between the pipes l9 and 2|. The opposite or what may be termed the inner end of each side bar 38 is provided with vertically spacednotches 46 and 41, the uppermost notch 46 being positioned at the extreme end of the side bar and opening in a generally vertical direction and the lowermost notch 41 being formed in alug 48 projecting from the lower edge of the side bar and opening in a generally downward direction which is angularly related to the direction of opening of the'notch 46. Bag hooks 49, in sufiicient number to support three full-size mail bags, are arranged in suitable spaced relationship on and along the pipe "39, these hooks being standard equipment similar to those used on the main rack units. The mutual relationship between the notches 46 and 41 is between the pipes l9 and 2] and between the pipes 39 and 4| so as to conform with standard equipment design and dimensions. InFigures 2 and 4 the method of attachment of. the extension unit to the front of the main rack may best be observed. As will be seen, thenotches 46 and 41 engage the pipes t9 and 2!, respectively and the operation of disconnecting the unit from the main rack. consists of lifting the front end of the unit in a pivotal movement about the axis of the pipe 19 unitl the pipe2-l is completely dislodged from the notch flywhereuponthe inner end of the unit may be dropped so as to dislodge the pipe l9 from the notch 46. Attachment of the unit, of course, entails a repetition of the foregoing operations" in reverse order. It will be noted that theparticular arrangement of the notches, forming the mounting means for the extension units, provides the condition wherein the weight of the-unit itself plus .anyadditional vertical load which may be imposed on it serves to securely seat the pipes in the respective notches. It follows that accidental disconnection of the extension units from the main rack is highly improbable since the considerable upward movement necessary in or der to free the pipe 2} from the notch 41 is not usually encountered in the normal use of the device.

, 1 1; will be also noted that the, Vertical position of the extension relative to the main rack is such that a standard bag 5| hanging from the extension unit hooks 69" is designed to rest on the floor 8-. Thus the weight of any material placed in the bag will be borne by the floor andonly a portion ofthe weight of the bag plus any slight pressura which tilting of the stacked material contained in the bag will create,.will be imposed on the extension unit, its mounting connections and the pipes 19 and 2|.

Redesigning and simplification of the distribution table 52 and its supporting structure has also been accomplished as will be seen by reference to Figure 3. The front edge of the table is provided with the usual standard hooks 53, which releasably engage the pipe 14 of the main rack unit, and one or more legs 54, depending on the overall length of the table, are pivotally mounted by means of brackets 56 on the underside of the table adjacent its front edge. The legs, when the table is in use, rest on the floor 8 as shown and are fitted with articulated link braces 51 which prevent collapsing of the leg under the table should the leg be accidently kicked by an operator in passing along the passageway. When it is desired to detach the table for storage the legs 54 may be folded up underneath the table so as to reduce to an efficient minimum the bulk of the unit.

In Figure 1 it will be seen that the three bags carried by the extension unit are arranged in file order across and parallel with the front of the main rack as compared with the standard practice of arranging the two bags of the present extension bridge in file order transversely of the length of the main rack. The improved structure of the invention therefore actually increases, the passageway in front of the extended rack and in such a congested location as a. railway mail car the added clearance adds materially to the free movements and consequently the work efficiency of the operators within the car. The arrangement also actually serves to increase the bag capacity of the rack. At present, four extension bridges, each capable of supporting two bags, are standard equipment in an ordinary thirty foot mail apartment. This make a total of eight extra full-size bags which may be added: to each main rack. Each of the improved extension units provides for mounting three full size'bags and because three of the latter extension units may be accommodated in' a standard mam rack, a total of nine additional bags is provided instead of the eight heretofore available.

The improved rack extension unit, of which the detailed construction and operation has been given above, is,.-first of all, characterized by simplicity of design as compared with the equivalent assemblage of parts now in general use; embodies no separate parts liable to become detached or lost; may be setup and removed iii but a small fraction of the time now required to erect and dismantle its present counterpart and costs iii'a terially less to produce than the present apparatus. Of equal importance are its capability er occupying but very little room in storage and of affording a greater degree of room both infront of the rack and below it. i

The foregoing disclosure has been devoted to the description of bag supporting racks used confined apartments such as railway mail cars. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the features of construction may to applied to other devices and locations wherein the need for a demountable bag rack or support is apparent. Such devices may include bag holding frames for weighing scales, bag fillers and the like and are intended to be covered within the scopeof the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for supporting a contciner comprising a pair of axially parallel rods, an extension unit comprising a pair of spaced parallel side bars, a rod extending between and connected to one end of each of said side bars, the other endof each side bar having notches therein, the first of said notches opening upwardly at the top of said side bar and the second of said notches opening downwardly in relation to said first notch and extending in a plane substantially tangent to an are described by the radial spacing between said notches, said second notch being positioned for engagement with one of said parallel rods only upon full engagement of said first notch with the other of said parallel rods, and means carried by one of said parallel rods and by said side bar connecting rod for engaging portions of said container.

2. In a rack structure adapted to support uniformly-sized containers including a pair of spaced rods having thereon means for engaging and suspending a first container above a base surface, an extension rack unit comprising spaced rods and arms having therein interlocking means releasably engageable with the spaced rods of the rack structure, said extension unit being supported in spaced relation to said base surface solely by said rack structure, means on said extension unit for engaging a second container and supporting the latter in proximal relation to the first container, and said extension unit being positioned relative to said base surface to bring the bottom of the second container into engagement with said base surface.

3. In a bag rack having fixed supports, an extension rack adapted to be connected to said firstnamed rack, said first-named rack and said extension rack being provided with interlocking parts for rigidly but detachably connecting the extension rack to the first-named rack, said firstnamed rack forming the sole support for said extension rack, and means carried by the firstnamed rack and the extension rack for the mouth of a bag thereto.

4. In a bag rack having fixed supports, an extension rack adapted to be connected to one of said fixed supports, said first-named rack and said extension rack being provided with interlocking parts for rigidly but detachably connecting the extension rack to the first-named rack, said firstnamed rack forming the sole support for said extension rack, and means carried by the firstnamed rack and the extension rack for securing the mouth of a bag thereto.

5. In a bag rack having fixed supports, an extension rack adapted to be connected to said firstnamed rack, said first-named rack and said extension rack being provided with interlocking parts for rigidly but detachably connectin the extension rack to the first-named rack, said firstnamed rack forming the sole support for said extension rack, and means comprising rods and hooks on said rods carried by the first-named rack and the extension rack for securing the mouth of a bag thereto.

6. In a bag rack having fixed supports, an ex" tension rack adapted to be connected to said firstnamed rack, said first-named rack and said extension rack being provided with interlocking parts including spaced notches on said extension rack for rigidly but detachably connecting the extension rack to the first-named rack, said first named rack forming the sole support for said extension rack, and means carried by the firstnamed rack and the extension rack for securing the mouth of a bag thereto.

7. In a bag rack having fixed supports, an extension rack adapted to be connected to said firstnamed rack, said first-named rack and said extension rack being provided with interlocking parts comprising spaced pipes on said first-named securing rack and spaced notches on said extension rack adapted to engage said pipes for rigidly but detacha'bly connecting the extension rack to the first-named rack, said first-named rack forming the sole support for said extension rack, and means carried by the first-named rack and the extension rack for securing the mouth of a bag thereto.

8. In a bag rack having fixed supports, an extension raok adapted to be connected to said firstnamed rack, said first-named rack and said extension rack being provided with interlocking parts comprising spaced pipes on said first-named rack and spaced notches on said extension rack adapted to engage said pipes for rigidly but detachably connecting the extension rack to the first-named rack, said first-named rack forming the sole support for said extension rack, and means comprising a series of hooks mounted on one of said rods and carried by the first named rack, a rod on said extension rack and a series of hooks mounted on said last-named rod, said hooks on both rods being adapted for securing the mouth of a bag thereto.

MONROE E. WILLIAMS.

REFERENCES CITED 7 The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

1 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 219,155 Harrison Sept. 2, 1879 406,966 Strange July 16, 1889 1,002,168 Marti .Aug. 29, 1911 1,097,958 Willoughby May 26, 1914 1,098,396 Peck June 2, 1914 1,133,611 Borgmeyer Mar. 30, 1915 

